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Famous Turks Series -- Figen Han, Movie Actress in 73 films (conventional and erotic) between 1966 and 1983
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Turkish Language Voice Recordings Index
and
Language Learning Factoid
Everyday Exclamations 2

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  • NewsReaders' Dictionary, Index
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    Turkish Language Learning Factoid
    Everyday Exclamations II

    We received an e-message the other day from old friend John Guise (of Ninni, Just Peachy, and Manisa Turkish fame) which (when he'd got passed his kind greetings and onto the language points) went something like this... "One of my correspondents sent this composite list to me and I thought to put it somewhere on my website. But then it occurred to me that your site may have an even happier home for it. What do you think, Jim? Have you already covered these exclamations? If not, then help yourself; they were graciously supplied to me by Ms. Burcu Dicle Yıldız."

    Well, it turns out that we have indeed tried to cover a lot of them previously (eg. The Allah Idioms, Bismillah, etc.) -- though Turkish exclamations (because they can have different meanings in different unrelated situations) aren't so easy to pigeon-hole. But, no matter... it's always helpful to have fresh insight on difficult topics -- especially when it comes from a Native Turk! So, here below is our second attempt to address the topic of Turkish Exclamations -- this time with the aid of Burcu Hanım's insightful input. And we sure hope it helps, fellow language strugglers...

    Everyday Turkish Exclamations
    The Exclamation
    The paraphrased
    Redhouse 'Primary Situation' Definition
    Burcu Hanım's Insight
    İNSALLAH Used in situations in which English-speakers would use 'Hopefully'. Use before beginning something.
    BİSMILLAH In the name of God... (said prayerfully by a Muslim as he/she embarks on some activity) Use just at beginning of an act.
    ALLAH ALLAH coll. Goodness gracious!/How strange Used when one has been surprised.
    EYVALLAH So be it./If you say so. Used when one has given up/given in.
    YA ALLAH Go. Get going. (An encouraging command) Go to the limit.
    VALLAH BILLAH I Promise! I swear to God it's true! So help me God! Promise, swear.
    EVEL ALLAH with God's help; Certainly. Said to demonstrate one's self confidence.
    ALİMALLAH God knows. Said by someone who is highly motivated.
    FESUPHANALLAH Good God Almighty! (Said in amazement) Used when one is bored.
    HASBINALLAH Good God! Used when one is extremely bored.
    İLLALLAHI'm fed up!/I give up!/I've had enough! Used when giving up [hope].
    ALLAH, ALLAH, ALLAH Good God Almighty! (Said in amazement) Used to vocalize great inspiration and motivation.
    MAŞALLAHWonderful!/Magnificent!/Just look at that! Used when one has succeeded.
    HAY ALLAHMy God! Said by someone facing faliure.
    Language-learning pages:
  • Translating Turkish, the basics
  • Essential Turkish Vocabulary
  • Turkish Verbs
  • Essential Idioms, Index
  • Essential Suffixes, Index
  • Sentence Structure, Standard
  • Turkish Pronunciation
  • Turkish Accenting
  • Numbers in Turkish
  • NewsReaders' Dictionary, Index

  • With many thanks to
    John Geeeee and Burcu Hanım
    14 February 2006

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